Just back from POR....
About This Page: This is a discussion on Just back from POR.... within the Staying in Style: The Resorts/Hotels at Walt Disney World, part of the PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel; This resort is breathtaking in scenery. The girls were thrilled with the royal rooms. glad we went for it. They ...

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This resort is breathtaking in scenery. The girls were thrilled with the royal rooms. glad we went for it. They would play with the fireworks lights every night : ) The boat to DD is really nice, though we did get caught in a long line waiting for a boat - on a weeknight at that!

I have to say we were disappointed with the bussing with this resort. It is chaotic! far too many people staying there to keep up with the demand, especially when trying to get to MK for park opening or a monorail hotel for an ADR. I don't like that they have no corrals for people to line up in or the fact that each of the two bus zones at the main stop service several destinations. People were pushing their way through to get on a bus, unlike the nicely corraled line-ups at Pop. We also had the experience of a second bus for MK parking behind the first and while we couldn't get on the first, the last people to come would make a mad dash to the other bus. A real frustration when you're traveling with a double jogger stroller, 2 small kids, and a blind person!

So because of the transportation, I don't believe we'll stay at POR again. FQ seems to be just as beautiful, but their lineups are a joke compared to POR! so much so that we finally caught on towards the end of the trip and started using their buses returning from MK when 15 or 20 people would be lined up rather than 150 to 200 in the POR line. It's a lovely walk along the river (10 mins. max) to POR from FQ if you're staying in one of the closest buildings to the eatery, etc. We were in Parterre Place. absolutely gorgeous.

so as much as we loved the royal rooms, even my near 7 year old, Abby, is fine with going to FQ next time to avoid the bus hassle because at times it really took away from our trip enjoyment.

Sorry about the bus hassle but that's why I always get a rental car. I can come and go as I please and I don't have to wait for busses or rude people or anything else that happens in/on the busses and lines.

Counting down to: It's been a very stressful time and we need a vacation 156 days, 11 hours, 52 minutes

My Previous Trips

All WDW - July 1980 off property - July 1981 FW - July 1983 FW - July 1985 FW - August 1987 FW - July 1988 Treehouse Villas - July 1990 Treehouse Villas - July 1997 FW - August 2006 AS Sports, 1st time with DH and DD - August 2008 AS Sports - August 2009 AS Sports - August 2010 AS Sports - July 2011 AS Sports - August 2013 AS Music - August 2014 AS Music

I'm glad to hear POR was beautiful. I'm sorry to hear about the busses! We didn't have that experience last time, and I hope it's better when we are down there. I agree that it would be nice if they had lines. Though I do love that the bus waiting areas are covered. Can't wait to stay in a Royal Room!

When we stay at POR we always use the bus stop behind the Magnolia Terrace mansion. It's usually closer, since we stay in the Mansion section, and way less chaotic then the Main Depot. We've never had a problem there, and were able to sit on a bench under cover (particularly nice in summer heat) to wait for bus.

We just returned too, from POFQ stay. We were on our way back to FQ around 3ish one day from AK, where bus is shared, and noticed quite a few tour groups were staying at Riverside. They filled up first bus, but a second was right behind.

Many trips stayed at CB and after a few trips got tired of all the bus stops. Really like the way Pop has the bus set up. At WL it is one of thoes free for all bus area's with no line up so we will be back in that situation again. It is hard when you have strollers and little ones to get on and off, even if you are first at the bus stop and are standing there people manage to get on that bus first, but you know all that before you go so you expect it, and I am just always glad if we get seats.

Thanks for the report. We are headed to POR in June. I liked hearing about the grounds, and your room. And, yes, even the bus stops. It is unfortunate that the bus service was such a hassle. I appreciate you sharing the details to help me prepare!

Regarding the bus situation ... are the bus stops at POR different from other moderate resorts? I have never stayed at POP so I can't really compare the two.

Wow I'm sorry to hear you had that problem. Though when I was there in January we used the East Depot right behind the Magnolia building since that's the one we were in. Never had much of a line or wait.

We've stayed at POFQ several times and the bus has never been a problem and never been a madhouse to get on, even during crowded times like Thanksgiving. The only frustration we've ever had was that several times we'd have to "share" the bus to Epcot with POR and hit all of their 3 depots. That was as bad as staying at CB. But on the upside, the bus came to POFQ first!

We stayed at POR in August and had the same experience with the buses
We have also decided not staying there in the future because the transportation. We also liked the resort itself it's a shame the transportation is reason to keep people from going back to the resort. Maybe they will catch on and make changes.

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My Previous Trips

March 2004 (off Resort)
April 2010 Honeymoon Pop Century
August 2011 Family vacation Pop Century
August 2012 Family Vacation POR
August 2013 A trip for two Pop Century
August 2014 Family trip POP Century and Disney Dream

When I was in Disney in September I stayed at POFQ. I noticed that buses going to the parks were for us only but coming back we almost always shared the route with Riverside. We stopped at all their depots before getting back to FQ.

we came and went at all hours of the day and night and I think we only shared buses with FQ once or maybe twice. yes, I have succumbed to the reality that a rental car is probably best. we wasted so much time waiting for buses!

I think our biggest frustration with the buses at POR was we were never sure if we would go straight to a park or have to do the loop around the resort before leaving. It's hard to figure out what time to get to the stop if you don't know. We caught the buses at the South Depot (main building) each time. Sometimes we'd make the loop around POR's stops, sometimes we'd stop at POFQ, but most of the time we went to the park from there.

I just can't let bus service make the decision on whether I stay at a resort or not. My last three onsite trips have been to CSR, ASSports, and POR. We had frustrations with both CSR and POR buses. POR was a first trip, but we'd stayed at CSR twice before without any transportation woes. We had some of the best service we've ever had at ASSports.

And overall, the worst service we've ever had was at GF, the flagship resort!